Of Teens And Cyberbullying

SHAILAon January 16, 2013

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Is your child spending more than 3 hours online every working day? If yes, then watch out, your youngster is susceptible to be bullied, for such children stand a 110% extra risk. I am quoting these facts from cyberbullying statistics released last year.

Bullies are age old; they have just taken a new form in this mobile, connected, always-on era. The widespread prevalence of the internet has increased the dimension of this harassment. 88% of teens have witnessed others being hassled online. A few more statistics from the same source help drive home this point.

Cyber Bullying on Social Networking Sites

39% of social networking teens were bullied.

15% experienced meanness on social network sites.

13% felt an experience on social networking site made them nervous to go to school the next day.

Needless to say, spending more time on social networking sites increases incidences of cyber bullying.

How Teens React to Cyberbullying?

55% of teens see others ignoring it

27% of teens see others defending the victim

20% of teens see others asking offender to stop

19% of teens see others join the harassment

Parents and Cyberbullying

Effects of cyberbullying are numerous and negatively impact the academic, psychological and emotional well-being of a victim. Unfortunately, very few teens are known to take their parents into confidence on this particular issue.

As a parent, be alert to warning signals which predominantly include a mood change after an online activity, and to other indications like anti social behaviour, withdrawal, disturbed sleep or nightmares.